KUALA LUMPUR, March 20 ― In its Friday sermon today, Malaysia’s federal Islamic authorities warned that Muslims are now stuck between two extremes: the liberals, and militant jihadists Islamic State (IS).

Accusing liberals of questioning and provoking the position of Islam in the country, the Malaysian Islamic Development Department (Jakim) urged Muslims nationwide to initiate “jihad” by rejecting such ideologies, referring to the “holy struggle” that is mandated of Muslims.

“We should reject the two extremisms … We believe the effort to curb these two extremisms which are religious and liberalism extremists, is a major ‘jihad’,” the sermon said today.

“Especially when this involves the effort to preserve the position, upholding and exalting the position of Islam as the religion of the state.”

The sermon accused liberals of being worried with the allegedly balanced and just implementation of Islamic teachings and codes in the country, causing them to attack religious institutions by sowing distrust and misperception against them.

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